Certificate in Education / PGCE (Education and Training)

Validated by: University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

These qualifications are open to all pre-service and in-service teachers, trainers and tutors in the Further Education and Skills sector. The certificate is designed for those who are employed or wish to be employed in a full teaching role. The course includes the compilation of a Professional Development Portfolio, completion of the threshold award 'Certificate in Education and Training, Preparatory’, and teaching and observed practice.

Whilst studying towards this qualification you will work on the following:

An initial assessment of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills and commencement of the Professional Development Portfolio

Completion of the threshold award - Certificate in Education and Training, Preparatory

Teaching, learning and assessment, including 75 hours of teaching practice and 4 hours of observed practice in each of the two years of the programme

For those who already hold a PTLLS certificate, it must be at Level 4, with 20 credits in order to progress straight onto the Cert Ed/PGCE's second module.

Action research and contemporary issues in education and training are undertaken in Year 2, along with the teaching, learning and assessment module.

A Level 3 qualification in the subject you would like to teach (or degree for PGCE) and 5 GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*- C or above including English and maths. The maths could be at Level 2 instead of GCSE.

You must also be aged over 21 and have the potential to complete 75 hours of teaching (which may be voluntary) in each of the two years of the programme.

You should also have a desire to teach students aged 14 or over and interview successfully. This qualification will not allow you to teach in a primary school.

Please note: To gain access to this course you will need to go through a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If you have criminal convictions or cautions, please do not be put off from applying for the course. Your acceptance onto the course will depend on the nature of any convictions and will be at the discretion of the University Centre and your placement provider. If you would like to discuss this issue in confidence, please contact Student Services Advisors in The Pod on 0151 353 4444, or call in to speak to them in person.

We reserve the right to make changes and improvements to the provision of courses and other details. There are minimum numbers of students required for each course to run. Should there be insufficient numbers to run a particular course, then every effort will be made to enrol you on a similar, appropriate course. For full details of our terms, conditions and disclaimers, click here.